Micromax A74 Canvas Fun review – The XOLO A500S competitor

The Micromax Canvas Fun A74 sports a 4.5 inch screen running Android 4.2 OS with 512MB RAM. This low budget handset is powered by 1.3GHz dual core processor and priced at Rs. 7,700. It competes with the XOLO A500S that also comes with the same hardware with minor (specs) changes.

Design, Display and OS The Micromax A74 weight is 144 with battery, thickness is 10.25mm, breadth is 69.32mm and length is 134.63mm. The Micromax Canvas Fun A74 is available in 3 different colors Black, Red and Blue. Handset looks great and has a curvy design. It does look like a Nokia phone on the first instance. The rear side is matte finish that makes it even more comfortable to hold.

The volume rockers are placed on the left, power button on the right and 3.5mm audio jack and micro USB port on the top side. The touchscreen is 4.5 inches with resolution 854×480 pixels (16M colors). Touch is smooth and viewing angles is okay (not really that good). There are light, accelerometer and proximity sensors. This handset sails on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS.

Memory and Storage The Micromax A74 comes with 512MB RAM of which 220 MB is free and of the 4GB internal storage 1.27GB is assigned for apps and 1.25 for Phone Storage. There is micro SD card slot and you can install apps on external storage. I tried connecting external pendrive using OTG cable, it doesn’t work. OTG is not supported.

Camera and Entertainment The Camera output isn’t really that good. You can check the sample images. The rear camera is 5MP fixed focus with LED flash support there is a front camera too with video call support. You can record videos in 720p resolution @ 14fps the video quality is not at all impressive.

You can play full HD videos in hardware mode only using MX player, in software mode audio video is out of sync.

Gaming I tried the Asphalt 7 and the MC4 (Modern Combat 4). Both of these games worked pretty well. The MC4 game play was smoother as compared to what we have seen on the Xolo A500S. The games got installed on the external storage card.

Others 3G, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS worked without any issues. In call / Loud Speaker is loud and clear. Got the GPS lock with 40 seconds.

1500 mAh battery The removable Li-ion battery of 1500 mAh capacity gives talktime of up to 5 hours. I used the handset for benchmark / games for approx 30 to 35 minutes and the battery level dropped to 6% and temp rose from 32 to 37 degrees.

Micromax A74 Verdict A good handset for the price, it also gives a premium feel – in fact some might mistaken it to be a Nokia handset. This handset competes with the XOLO A500S, hardware is the same but little difference like A74 is with 4.5 inch screen and A500S with 4 inch. A74 comes with 1500 mAh battery and A500S with 1400 mAh. MC4 game play is better on A74. If you look at the price the XOLO is a little cheaper.

Overall Canvas Fun A74 is very good budget smartphone with a comfortable price tag (ignore the camera). It is definitely better than the Micromax A113 and much cheaper.

sir, I bought a Micromax Canvas A74 phone. its very good phone. But 1 Problem its fail to connect with Pen drive.

Rakeshsays:

January 17, 2014 at 10:42 pm

Hi sir , yesterday i went to buy this mobile. We were in shock to hear about it internal memory . As per spec it has to be 4Gb but it not mentioned on box & also retailer said only 1gb is usable other 3gb is for OS purpose. Please reply sir

gaurav ksays:

January 31, 2014 at 12:03 am

no bro…. .it has 1.27gb memory free fo phone storage and left 1.57gb is assigned for apps n from all of them is used for OS…ITZ LIKE a 4gb memory card in which you got only 3.57 free memory..

samsulsays:

January 5, 2014 at 4:19 pm

how do u install mc4 on it…?? plz tell its not working on my a74… where do u extract the obb file if the game… plz help…

Alexsays:

February 2, 2014 at 5:38 pm

If u have a sd card go connect the phone to pc and go to sd card and then in android and then in obb extract the folder which will be for eg like this”games.rockstar.gtavice-city” or something like that and the insatll the apk too

Mayanksays:

January 3, 2014 at 7:22 pm

change your network mode to wcdma only.

souravsays:

December 31, 2013 at 2:36 pm

which phone should i buy- canvas a74 or xolo a600????

Lahiru Ashansays:

December 28, 2013 at 8:49 am

sir, I bought a Micromax Canvas A74 phone. its very good phone. I like it. but I don’t know set the Internet settings. please tell me, How to set internet settings for Micromax canvas A74 phone.

rajsays:

January 5, 2014 at 8:35 pm

call to your operator’s cc & tell the model no. they will send the settings

Manishsays:

December 19, 2013 at 9:48 pm

Sir, will it record good quality videos? I mean 720p at 30fps….u have mentioned 14fps….and i also saw ur footage of camera sample video….but it looks pretty good…..i’m a video recording fan. I just want smooth videos….should i buy mmx a74? Please help sir…..thats my first and last question….pls help

Gogi Ranasays:

December 19, 2013 at 9:50 pm

Manish, please read the review, its 14fps and not 30fps.

harish kashyapsays:

December 11, 2013 at 8:11 am

Sir, I have purchased Micromax canvas fun A74 . it is hang so much and game like tempale run2, and other gams is not performing well. And camera also not availe to captured pctures what I will do and their are no service center of micromax.

Hi, Pls honestly tell me….how is the battery back up? Iam a bit confused between MMX canvas a63 and a74…pls suggest? I also have asha 503 (to be launched) and galaxy young S6312 on my mind as other options….pls help me to choose!

Rinkeshsays:

December 7, 2013 at 3:04 pm

dear i think you should try to micromax A63, A74 is a good phone by rate by features but not by battery back up…A74 had a worst battery back up i have ever seen in any smart phone….

Tarunsays:

November 17, 2013 at 9:27 pm

Hello, i have not used any android yet but i have used some of my friend’s.. and this would be my first. i have seen the gaming review of “micromax canvas fun A74″there were games like nova3,asphalt8,MC,TempleRun2,subwaysurf…..i just want to know that can this phone install all these kind of games and apps on a 4gb of rom where 1.27(approx) is available for the apps..is this sufficient!!!…and can i install(NOT DOWNLOAD as in keep it on sd card) apps and games on external sd card (sandisk class 10 8gb)..will u please clear these things up!!!

Shwetasays:

November 16, 2013 at 7:55 pm

I bought this phone this diwali,and my camera is not operating since last few days. It says ” unfortunately gallery has stopped” .I have not been able to capture anything since 5-6 days. Can you help me out?

Gogi Ranasays:

November 16, 2013 at 7:58 pm

Factory reset the phone and try. If same issue visit service centre. Note factory reset will erase all data.

Shwetasays:

November 16, 2013 at 9:28 pm

It worked thnx

Sanjaysays:

November 21, 2013 at 11:24 pm

Shweta, pls share ur experience as I m also going to buy it….

Sivasays:

November 13, 2013 at 10:34 am

Dear gogi sir, in this phone have gps or Agps? Kindly help sir…

rahulsays:

November 12, 2013 at 12:10 pm

does it has led notification

kalis kalisays:

November 11, 2013 at 2:32 pm

I am using mmx a74. 5 hours not using mobile was sleep mode . battery power is automatically less for 30 .what reason plz tell…….

karthiksays:

November 4, 2013 at 11:15 am

sir please tell about the battery life when using 2g ……pls pls pls

bhavinsays:

October 31, 2013 at 6:14 am

Hi Gogi, thanks for your review for A74. I am using canvas 2 for 1 year. I purchased that after seeing your review on that. Thanks for your review for canvas 2 at that time. I would like to know that what is major difference between A76 and canvas 2 except camera. In fact processor on A76 is on higher side than canvas 2 (1.2 v/s 1). Why the difference of prize between a76 & canvas 2 is more than 2k. In fact Canvas 2 is being sold around 11000 on Amazon.

sai kiransays:

October 29, 2013 at 11:33 am

Hi gogi sir…i’m planning to buy A74…i’m fond of games..i just wanted to know will this A74 hang or lag while playing games because of the 512mb ram???

Bhondusays:

October 27, 2013 at 3:05 pm

extremely bad phone with excellent features and smart price.

mjssays:

October 26, 2013 at 5:28 pm

Hello Gogi Sir…M planning to buy A74…..In some review i can see that people are saying watapp & gmail is not working in 2G & 3G..Could u plz throw some light on that…

Bristisays:

October 28, 2013 at 12:08 pm

I have canvas fun a74 & it’s awesome ph…some of you r saying that whatsapp & gmail is not working in 2g or 3g.but its not true..i use 2g net & all these apps are working fine…camera is fine in day but not in night(low light)..

mjssays:

October 28, 2013 at 11:46 pm

Thanks for ur comment..:)

Abhisays:

December 15, 2013 at 12:22 pm

Dear Bristi, Can u tell me…my 2phone shown 3g network in same area n plateform but mmx a74 fail to get it….plz help